KULIAH ONLINE PROJECT MANAGEMENT PERT CPM

Summary

This video script provides an in-depth introduction to project management using the Critical Path Method (CPM) and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). It explores essential steps such as identifying project activities, estimating durations, creating network diagrams, and calculating the critical path. Emphasizing the importance of accurate scheduling, the script explains how to determine critical activities, calculate slack time, and ensure project completion within the set time frame. The video also covers techniques like three-point estimation for time prediction and how to manage project dependencies for effective monitoring and control.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) and Critical Path Method (CPM) are popular quantitative analysis techniques used by managers to plan, schedule, monitor, and control projects.
• 😀 PERT and CPM techniques originated differently but have evolved into a similar approach for analyzing and managing projects, including civil and non-civil projects.
• 😀 PERT has a limitation in estimating activity times, as it is based on subjective assumptions and prior experience, which can make the project timeline overly optimistic.
• 😀 The Critical Path Method (CPM) involves visualizing project activities in a network, with nodes representing events and arcs representing the activities between them.
• 😀 The project management process using PERT and CPM involves six steps: determining activities, developing relationships between activities, drawing a network, estimating time/cost, calculating the critical path, and using the network for planning and control.
• 😀 In CPM, project time can be estimated using three time estimates: optimistic time (best case), pessimistic time (worst case), and most likely time (realistic estimate). These estimates are used to calculate a weighted average expected time.
• 😀 To calculate expected time, the formula used is T = (optimistic + 4 * most likely + pessimistic) / 6, which gives a weighted average.
• 😀 After determining expected times for each activity, the next step is to calculate the longest path in the network, known as the critical path, which determines the overall project duration.
• 😀 Critical Path Calculation includes calculating the early start and finish times (ES, EF), and the late start and finish times (LS, LF) for each activity, helping determine the slack time and critical activities.
• 😀 Activities with zero slack time are considered critical, and any delays in these activities will directly impact the project's completion time, while non-critical activities can be delayed without affecting the overall schedule.
• 😀 The final project duration is determined based on the critical path, and the total duration can be shorter than initially estimated if activities are completed in parallel.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the script?

The script focuses on project management techniques, particularly PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) and CPM (Critical Path Method). It explains how to plan, monitor, and control projects using these methods.

What are the main objectives of using PERT and CPM?

The main objectives of using PERT and CPM are to plan, create schedules, and monitor and control project activities efficiently. These methods help in identifying the critical path and estimating the time and cost required for each activity.

How is the Critical Path Method (CPM) represented in project management?

In CPM, the activities of a project are represented in a network diagram, where events are shown as nodes (points) and the activities are shown as arrows connecting the nodes. The critical path is the longest path through the network, determining the project's minimum completion time.

What are the six steps to implement PERT and CPM as mentioned in the script?

The six steps are: 1) Identify significant activities, 2) Develop relationships between activities, 3) Draw the network diagram, 4) Estimate time and/or cost for each activity, 5) Calculate the longest path (critical path), 6) Use the network to plan, schedule, monitor, and control the project.

What is the importance of estimating time for each activity in CPM?

Estimating time for each activity is critical to determining the project's overall duration and identifying the critical path. It allows project managers to allocate resources effectively and ensure that the project is completed on schedule.

What are the three time estimates used in CPM for each activity?

The three time estimates used in CPM are: 1) Optimistic time (the shortest possible duration), 2) Pessimistic time (the longest possible duration), and 3) Most likely time (the most realistic estimate based on typical conditions).

How is the expected time for each activity calculated in CPM?

The expected time (T) for each activity is calculated using the formula: T = (Optimistic time + 4 × Most Likely time + Pessimistic time) / 6. This provides a weighted average of the three estimates.

What is the critical path in a project?

The critical path is the longest path through the project network, representing the sequence of activities that determine the project's minimum completion time. Delays in critical path activities will directly impact the project's overall timeline.

What is the role of slack time in project management?

Slack time refers to the amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the project's overall timeline. Activities with zero slack time are considered critical, meaning any delay in these activities will delay the entire project.

How does the script illustrate the application of CPM in a real project example?

The script uses the example of a factory project for installing an air filtration system. It details the steps of identifying activities, establishing dependencies, creating the network diagram, estimating times, calculating the critical path, and determining the project duration.